Scaffolding device



Feb. 2, 1937. w c w v 2,069,607

SCAFFOLDING DEVICE Filed July 14, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wil'iiam C4 Gqurh 54 BY Feb. 2, 1937. w, c w 2,069,607

SCAFFOLDING DEVICE Filed July 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LE S : I; f E1.s 5

x/LNTOR WWW ATTQRNirQO Feb. 2, 1937. w c w 2,069,607

SCAFFOLDING DEVI GE Filed July 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l mvlk:

William C. Gqur Feb. 2, 1937. w. c. GAW 2,069,607

SCAFFOLDING DEVI CE Filed July 14, 1954 4 Sheets-Shet 4 William C.Gcuw"LN \ILNTOR ATTOR N-E s Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNETED STATES Parser orrice SCAFFOLDING DEVICE William C. Gaw, East Cleveland, Ohio ApplicationJuly 14, 1934, Serial No. 735,239

14 Claims.

This invention relates to scafiolding devices, and has for an object theprovision of a new and improved device of this character.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application, I have shown, for purposes of illustration, oneembodiment which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a broken perspective View illustrating the preferredembodiment of my invention as used with a ladder,

Figure 2 is a broken vertical sectional view corresponding substantiallyto the line 2-2 of Figure 1, with parts shown in elevation,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View corresponding substantially to theline 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the platform supporting mechanism,and is drawn in operative alignment with Figure 3 to disclose adjacentcooperating parts,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of the supporting-armengaging lugs shown in Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding substantially tothe line 66 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a broken side elevational view of the boom mechanism,

Figure 8 is a sectional View corresponding substantially to the line 88of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is an elevational View showing the same embodiment of myinvention as used without a ladder,

Figure 10 is an elevational View at right angles to Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the lower partof the embodiment used as shown in Figures 9 and 10, used on an inclinedbase, while- Figure 12 is a sectional view corresponding substantiallyto the line l2-l2 of Figure 10.

The herein disclosed embodiment of my invention when used in connectionwith a ladder, as shown in Figures 1 through 8, comprises a scafioldingdevice Bil, adapted to be suspended from an upper portion of a ladder H,and supporting, upon its depending portion, a movable and adjustableplatform supporting device 12, adapted to support, as one of its uses,the weight of a workman. Although only one scaffolding device 95 may beused, it will be understood that a second device ma be suspended from asecond ladder spaced from the ladder ll, and a suitable plank-likemember supported by the two platform supporting devices I2.

The scaffolding device l0 comprises an elongated pipe-like member is,provided with an integral radially projecting rib or spline I lsubstantially the entire length of the member l3 and provided withmilled-out portions forming stops !5.

Secured to the upper end of the member [3 is a casting it formed with asleeve portion ll embracing the upper end of the member I3 and fastenedthereto by a pin 18. Extending from the sleeve i1 is a pulley housing19, provided interiorly thereof with a partition 20 forming the housinginto suitable compartments adapted to accommodate pulleys 2i and 22journaled on a pin 23 which passes through the partition 20 and thesides of the pulley housing l9.

Projecting from each side of the pulley housing iii are a pair of spacedlugs 24 and 25, and as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the lugs 24 and 25 areof substantially plano-convex cross-section, with the convex portions 26thereof facing each other. The lugs are apertured as at 21, and each lug25 is provided at its lower end, adjacent the pulley housing l9, with anabutment 28 extending from the convex surface 26 and cooperatingtherewith to form a shoulder 29. Bolts 30 extend through the apertures21 and are secured in place by suitable nuts.

The bolts 30 also extend through loosely surrounding apertures 3iprovided in oppositely disposed arms 32. The arms 32 are substantiallyL-shaped in cross-section, and are provided at their extremities withangularly disposed U-shaped portions 33. A portion 34 of the arms 32adjacent the lugs 24 and 25 is of substantially flat cross-section, andis of a lesser width than the space between the convex portions 25 ofthe lugs 26 and 25, so that the arms 32 may rotate about the bolts 39and also may tilt with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bolts.

With the arms 32 in upright tilted position, as shown in Figures 2 and3, each arm 32 is positioned askew, with its portion 34 engaging theadjacent convex surfaces 26, and with a part of its portion 34 engagingthe shoulder 29 to hold the arm 32 against rotation.

When it is desired to attach the scaifolding device It to the ladder H,the operator elevates the device i0 until its upper end is at thedesired height, and the upper end of the device it) is then shiftedtoward an adjacent ladder rung 35, so that the arms 32 will contact thisrung, and this contact causes the arms 32 to shift longitudinah 1y withrespect to the axis of the bolts 30, there- 7 by dislodging the portions34 from engagement with the shoulder 29, and permitting the arms 32 torotate, to swing the U-shaped portions 33 to a position adjacent theside rails or stiles of the member I3. As shown in Figure 4, a pulleyhousladder I I, to engage and grip the same when the device I is loweredslightly,and support the en tire scaffolding device I 0 therefrom.

The platform supporting device 12 comprises spaced collar members 31embracing the member I3, slidably mounted thereon, and provided withrecesses 38 to accommodate the'spline I4 of the ing 39 is providedadjacent the upper end of the platform supporting device I2 and a pulley48 is journaled within the pulley housing by means of a. pin 4I.Referring to Figure 6, it will be noted that the pulley 48 is off-setwith respect to the axis of the member I3 to accommodate apawl 42,disposed in line with the axis. of the member I 3, and journaled abouta. pin 43 extending through a wall of the pulley housing 39 and an ear44 spaced from the pulley housing and'formed integral therewith. Thepawl 42 is provided with a tooth 45 cooperable with the stops I formedon the spline I 4, and the opposite end of the pawl 42 is provided witha beveled projection 48 39 is an ear 48 formed withan aperture 49adapted to receive a portion of a'rope 50 provided with a knot 5|disposed beneath the ear '48 and engageable with the lower surfacethereof. The rope 50 extends upwardly and around the pulley 2| in theupper pulley housing I9, and then downwardly and around the pulley 40 inthe lower pulley housing 39, and then again upwardly and around thepulley 22 in' the upper pulley housing I9, and then downwardly asubstantial distance to provide a portion 35which may be manipulated bythe user of the scaffolding device I0;

Projecting from the outer face of the platform- 'supporting device I2are lugs 52 to the upper and lower pairs of which are secured by meansof pins 53 the two arms 54 and 55 of a plank-supporting bracket 56adapted to support one end of a platform or plank '51 and provided atits extremity with an up-turned abutment 58 adapted 'to retain the plank51 in position.

As shown in Figure 1; adjacent the lower extremity of the member I3 is aboom device 59 comprising a rod 60 provided with an apertured lug BIengaged by a wing-nut bolt 62 carried by a split collar 63 surroundingthe lower extremity.

of the member I3 and adjustably fixed with respect to the member I3 by asecond wing-nut bolt 54. The rod 60 of the boom 59 extends laterallyfrom the member I3 to a position adjacent a ladder rung 65.

Means are provided to secure the rod 80 to the rung 65, comprising aclamping member 88 provided with'feet 6.1straddling the rung 65, and Vwith a recess 68 of a size to accommodate a portion of the rod 60 of theboom 59.

Disposed adjacent the recess 68 and extending from the member 66 arepairs of spaced cars 63 carrying bolts 69a rotatably supporting cam fingers I0 provided with cam surfaces II adapted to engage a portion of therod 60 and to cooperate With the recess 68 to'clamp the .rod 60 inposition. The cam fingers Iii are provided at their extremities withapertured ears I2, and a bolt and wing nut connection I3 serves to holdthe fingers I0 in'clamping engagement with the rod 50.

Normally it is desirable to adjust the boom 58 so that the member I3 issubstantially vertical, but should occasion demand it, the member I3 maybe angularly shifted with respect to the verticaL'by proper positioningof the boom 59.

In operation, and with the arms 32 in engagement with the side rails orstiles of the ladder 'I I, the platform supporting device I2 and plank j51 may be raised or lowered by a single operator.

In the event that it is desired to raise the platform supporting deviceI2 from the position shown in Figure l, the operator grasps the portion36 of the rope 58 and pulls downwardly thereon to raise theplatformsupporting device I2 the desired distance, whereupon the platformsupporting device I2 is permitted to move downwardly slightly, until thepawl 42 engages the nearest stop I5, to hold the device I2 in the raisedposition. Z Y Y Conversely, to lower the platform supporting device I2,the operator grasps the portion 35 of the rope 58 and pulls downwardlythereon to slightly raise the platform supporting device I2, and todisengage the tooth 45 of the pawl 42 from the adjacent stop I5 of thespline I4, andthen places the toe of his foot in engagement with thebeveled portion 46 of the pawl 42, and lifts the pawl 42, and then letsout on the portion-35 of the rope 50 until the platform supportingdevice I2 is lowered substantially the desired distance, whereupon thepawl 42 isreleased and the platform supporting device I 2 is permittedto move downwardly slightly, until the pawl 42 engages the nearest stopI5. Either up or down, the operator may then move along the plank 51 tothe other supporting device and perform the same operation to bring theplank 51 to a level position.

The herein disclosed embodiment of my 'invention also may be usedwithout a ladder, for example, when the surface to be worked is not ofgreat height, and as shown in Figures, 9 through 12, when so used omitsthe boom 59 and adds a spacer I4 and a stand I5.

The stand I5 is applied to the elongated mem- 7 bar I3 spaced from thelower end of the elongated member I3 and comprises a sleeve 18 embracingthe elongated member I3 and provided.

with diametrically opposed pairs of apertured ears 11, each pair spacedto permit the interposition of an apertured lug I8, carried by the upperextremity of a supporting leg I9 and fastened to the corresponding earsI1 by a wing nut-bolt 88.

The legs I9 are angularly disposed with respect 7 to the longitudinalaxis of the elongated member I3, and are provided each with a foot8I'having ly held in position on the elongated member l3 by drawing upon the wing nut-bolts 8B.

Pivotally connected to the legs 19 intermediate their ends is an angularsupport 84 provided with an offset central portion 85 providing a basefor the elongated member 13 and provided with a plurality of circularlugs 86 each of a diameter to fit within the open end of the elongatedmember I 3 to hold the lower end of the elongated member l3 in selectedposition on the central portion 85 of the support 84. As shown in Figure11, the scaffolding device may be supported on an inclined base, yet theelongated member l3 may be disposed substantially vertical, merely bypositioning the open lower end of the elongated member I3 over theproper circular lug 86.

Located adjacent the upper end of the elongated member I3 is the spacer14 comprising a sleeve 81 longitudinally movable on the elongated memberl3, and adjustable to different positions thereon by means of a pawl 88carried by the sleeve 81 and cooperable with the stops l5, and carryinga projecting arm 89.

In operation, and with the sleeves l6 and 8! properly positioned on theelongated member I3, and with the legs 19 suitably adjusted on thesleeve l6 and the lower end of the elongated member I 3 encircling theproper lug 86 on the support 84, the scaffolding device is securelysupported by the legs 19 and held in vertical position, spaced from thesurface to be worked, and steadied, by the spacer I4 contacting thesurface.

A platform may be carried by the platform supporting device l2, andmoved up and down, in the same manner as when the device is used inconnection with a ladder.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this inventionprovides a scaffolding device that is readily operated by a singleworkman, who may raise or lower the platform without stepping therefromor dismantling the device, and that is economical of manufacture, isstrong and durable, and possesses wide utility.

Under these circumstances it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that the embodiment herein disclosed accomplishes at least theprincipal object of the invention, and also, that the construction isadaptable to a wide variety of uses, and embodies advantages other thanthose herein discussed, and further, that the particular embodimentherein disclosed may be variously changed and modified without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention, and accordingly, that theabove disclosure is illustrative only, and that my invention is notlimited thereto.

I claim:

1. A scaffolding device, comprising: an elongated member, having one endadapted to be supported from a ladder, its other end depending from saidsupport; means disposed adjacent said one end of said member andprovided with abutments; attaching arms, rotatably and tiltably mountedon said means, rotatable in one plane, and tiltable in a planesubstantially at right angles to said rotatable plane, said arms, whentilted being engageable with said abutments, so that they are held fromrotating, and said arms being moved in said tiltable plane by engagementwith a portion of said ladder adjacent a desired height to disengagesaid abutments and rotate to engage the side rails of said ladder; andsupporting means movably mounted upon said member, and adapted to carrya platform.

2. A scaffolding device, comprising: an elongated member, adapted to bedisposed in substan tially upright position; supporting legs pivotallysecured adjacent the lower extremity of said elongated member, andadapted to cooperate with a base to support said member in uprightposition; supporting means, pivotally secured to said supporting legs,and provided with a plurality of abutments, the lower extremity of saidelongated member being engageable with certain of said abutments incertain predetermined positions, said supporting legs and saidsupporting means being rockable with respect to said elongated member,so that said member may be disposed substantially upright when saidsupporting legs engage an inclined base; means movably mounted on saidmember, and adapted to carry a platform; and cooperating mechanism,carried by said member and said movably mounted means for effectingadjustment of said platform.

3. A scaffolding device, comprising: an elongated tubular member adaptedto be disposed in substantially upright position, and having an integralspline extending substantially the length thereof, said spline beingnotched at spaced longitudinal points to provide stops; supporting legs,pivotally secured adjacent the lower extremity of said elongated member,and adapted to cooperate with a base to support said member in uprightposition; supporting means, pivotally secured to said supporting legs,and provided with a plurality of abutments, the lower extremity of saidelongated member being engageable with certain of said abutments incertain predetermined positions, said supporting legs and saidsupporting means being rockable with respect tosaid elongated member, sothat said member may be disposed substantially upright when saidsupporting legs engage an inclined base; means movably mounted on saidmember, and adapted to carry a platform; and cooperating mechanism,carried by said member and said movably mounted means for effectingmovement of said platform.

4. A scaffolding device, comprising: an elongated member of tubularcross-section, having an integral hollow spline extending substantiallythe length thereof, said spline being displaced from the cross-sectionalsurface of said member, and having longitudinally spaced-apart stopsformed therein, means movably mounted on said elongated member andhaving a part in cooperable relation with said spline to confinemovement of said means in a general longitudinal direction with respectto said elongated member; and pawl means cooperable with said stops, andconstructed and arranged to hold said movably mounted means in apredetermined position with respect to said member, and substantiallyfree from binding action therewith.

5. In combination: an elongated member, having stops formed along thelength thereof; means movably mounted on said elongated member; and apawl pivotally carried by said movably mounted means, said pawl beingoperable to move in one direction of travel of said supporting means topass said stops, and being operable in another direction of travel toengage one of said stops and a portion of said movably mounted member,to hold'said'movable member against movement in said other direction.

6. In combination: an elongated member, of tubular cross-section, havingan integralhollow spline extending substantially along the lengththereof, said spline being displaced from the pass said stops, and beingoperable in another direction of travel to engage one of said stops anda portion of said movably mounted means and to be disposed generally atright angles to the longitudinal axis of said elongated member, and inthis position said pawl holds said movable member against movement, insaid other'direction.

7.1A device, for use with spaced supports hav ing aspanning member,comprising: an elongated member; attaching means, cooperable withsaid'elongated member and adapted to engage said supports, for attachingsaid elongated member to said supports, said attaching means beingnormally biased to a position wherein the attaching means may engagesaid supports; and holding means, operable to hold said attaching meansout of support engagingposition against the bias'of said attachingmeans, said holding means being constructed and arranged so as torelease said attaching means for movement toward said support engagingposition when said attaching means are moved against said spanningmember.

8. A device, for usein combination with a ladder, comprising: anelongated member; attaching means, cooperable with said elongated memberand adapted to engage said ladder, for attaching said elongated memberto said ladder, saidattaohing means being normally biased to a positionwherein the attaching means mayjengage said ladder; and holding means,operable to hold said attaching means out of ladder en- 7 gagingposition against thesbias of said attaching means, said holding meansbeing constructed and arranged so as to release said attachingmeans formovement tow:.\ d said ladder engaging position when said attaaningmeans are moved against a portion of said ladder.

9. A device, for use in combination with a ladder having side rails andconnecting rungs, comprising? an elongated member; attaching means,cooperable with said elongated member and adapted to engage the siderails of said ladder, for attaching said elongated member to saidladder, said attaching means being normally biased to a positionwherein. the attaching means may engage said side rails; and holdingmeans, operable to hold said attaching'means out of side-rail engagingposition against the bias of said attachingmeans, said holding meansbeing constructed and arranged so as to release said 7 attaching meansfor movement toward said siderails engaging position when said attachingmeans are moved against a rung of said ladder; 10. A device, for use incombination with a ladder having side rails and connecting rungs,

comprising: an elongated memberj attaching means, cooperable with saidelongated member and adapted to engage the side rails of said ladder,'for attaching said elongated member to gitudinal points to providestops;

said ladder, said attaching means being normally biased to, a positionwherein the attaching means may engage said side rails; holding means,operable to hold said attaching means out of side-rail engaging positionagainst the bias of said attaching means, said holding means beingconstructed and arranged so as to release said attaching means formovement toward said sider'ails engaging position when said attachingmeans are moved againsta rung of said ladder; and supporting meansmovably mounted on said elongated member and adapted to carry aplatform.

11. A device, for use in combination with a ladder having side rails andconnecting rungs, comprising: an elongated tubular member, having aspline extending substantially the length n thereof, said spline beingnotched at spaced 1onattaching means, cooperable with said elongatedmember and adapted to'engage the side rails of said ladder, forattaching said elongated member to said ladder, said attaching meansbeing normally biased to a position wherein the attaching meansmayengage'said side rails; holding means,

operable to hold said attaching means out of side-rail engaging positionagainst the bias of said attaching meansfsaid holding means beingconstructed and arranged so as to release said attaching means formovement toward said siderailengaging position when said attaching meansare moved against a rung of said ladderf supporting means movablymounted on'said elongated member, adapted to carry a platform, and beingcooperable with said spline so that movement thereof is confined in a,general longitu dinal direction; pawl means cooperable with saidsupporting means and said spline stops so that said supporting means maybe held in different positions; and mechanism for effecting movement lof said supporting means.

12; In combination: an elongated m embery adapted to be disposed insubstantially upright position; supporting legs pivotally securedadjacent the lower extremity of said elongated member, andadapted tocooperate with a base to support said member in upright position; sup?porting means, pivotally secured to said supporting legs, and provided.with a plurality of abutments, the lower extremity of said elongatedmember being engageable with certain of said abutments' in certain.predetermined positions,

said supportinglegs and said supporting means being rockable withrespect to said elongated member, so that said member may be disposedsubstantially upright when said supporting legs engage an inclined base.

13. A device for use in combination with a support, comprising:supported means; connecting means adapted to connect said supportedmeans to said support, said connecting means said upright means invertical position, said base means having supporting means engageablewith 7 said upright means and constructed and arranged so that saidupright means may be longitudinally tilted about said supporting means,and said base means having a plurality of additional supporting means,vertically spaced from said first supporting means, and spaced laterallyfrom each other, each additional supporting means being constructed andarranged to selectively accommodate said upright means at a positionsuitable for maintaining the same in vertical position whether thecontour of the surface upon which said base means rests be perpendicularor inclined with respect to the vertical.

WILLIAM C. GAW.

